Welsh Government scheme helping children in Clwyd South, says AM

Assembly Member Ken Skates visited a children’s centre to see first-hand how a Welsh Labour Government scheme is helping to give them the best possible start in life.

Mr Skates, the Labour AM for Clwyd South, met the health and childcare teams at Plas Madoc, which is one of several areas in his constituency to have benefited from investment through the Welsh Government’s Flying Start programme, on Friday (November 28).

The health team, based near Plas Madoc Leisure Centre, focuses on parenting and health visiting, while staff at the nearby Idwal family centre concentrate on childcare and early language development.

Mr Skates said: “Flying Start is one of the Welsh Labour Government’s priority programmes, and is designed to give children the best possible start in life. We have now invested more than £282m to extend the initiative to more areas and reach more families than ever.

“Flying Start offers free childcare for under-fours, parenting support, an enhanced health visitor service and help with early years language development. By 2016, some 36,000 pre-school children across Wales will have benefited from it.”

In Mr Skates’ constituency, there are also flying Start bases in Brymbo, Brynteg, New Broughton, Pant and Penycae.

Mr Skates added: “It was fantastic to see first-hand how Welsh Labour Government investment is helping children’s early years development, and it was particularly pleasing to hear the staff say what a difference it is making in Plas Madoc and across Clwyd South.”